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The use of cervical collar, head blocks and tape on a stable surface (such as a long spine board or hospital trolley) has long been accepted as the standard of care for patients with potentially unstable spinal injury. There is, however, scant evidence that supports their use, and there are significant potential risks associated with their use, including aspiration of vomit, difficult airway access, pressure sores and rise in intracranial pressure.1

The majority of studies relating to the clinical effectiveness of rigid collars and head blocks as a means of immobilisation have utilised healthy volunteers, and measure gross movement of head in relation to the shoulders. The recently published study by Holla2 utilises gross measurements in healthy volunteers. The combination of a rigid cervical collar and …

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